RUSSIA – On Thursday, Russia and Ukraine carried out a prisoner swap where each side exchanged 185 military personnel, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

In a statement, the ministry added that 20 more civilians were released by Ukraine.

The ministry said that the released prisoners of war were in Belarus for psychological and medical assistance.

The prisoner swap is part of the Istanbul agreement agreed by both countries in the July talks.

The two sides have already conducted several prisoner and wounded exchanges since the Istanbul agreement.